This year September 8-14 is nationally recognized as Direct Support Professionals Week. Direct Support Professionals, or DSPs, are people who work as direct care workers, in-home support workers, personal assistants, or attendants that work directly with people with disabilities. They ensure that people with disabilities have the necessary supports that enable them to live, work, and enjoy life more independently in a community-based setting. DSPs are integral to helping individuals with disabilities live successfully in their communities.

DSPs are the primary providers of publicly-funded, long-term support services for millions of people with disabilities. They provide their clients with daily living assistance that fosters a stable environment for individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities. DSPs build close respectful, and trusted relationships with their clients, their families, and their community.

It’s essential for communities and for people with disabilities to have options. Individuals in our community may or may not have the necessary skills to get a job when they are ready to seek employment. It’s important to build the skills that could lead to employment opportunities in line with an individual’s goals. Or, if employment is not what they are seeking it is important to assist them with achieving the goals outlined in their individual support plan. The DSPs of our Day Support and our Employment Service Programs do just that.

Every DSP, whether in Day Support or Employment Services are well-trained and highly dedicated and values the personality, choices, strengths, and preferences of each individual. They focus on getting to know someone in order to deliver individualized services. These services aim to enable people to learn, achieve, and grow through lifelong learning that will help them in both employment and everyday life. Every day they provide consistent and innovative support to adults and students with disabilities, directly contributing to Didlake’s mission of enriching lives.

“Direct Support Professionals prioritize each person’s needs and goals to foster the greatest success possible because all flourishing is mutual – when our people are enriched, we are all enriched,” said Erik Smith, Director of Employment Services at Didlake.

So join us and take time to celebrate and thank the Direct Support Professionals who play a meaningful role in enriching the lives of people with disabilities.